Low productivity of Basmati-386, for long the flavour of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts, reduces the farmer’s interest in it; newer varieties are more productive but lack the distinct touch. Pure, traditional aromatic basmati, once the main export of the three border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, is now on the verge of extinction. Basmati-386 that once brought fame to the region for its aroma and the length of its grain, is now grown on only 10% of the area it was grown just five years ago, PAU, Ludhiana, has estimated. Govt failure to put a favorable export system in place with the main reason being the inadequate returns to the farmer. Falling yields of the variety with newer more productive varieties being discovered have added to the farmer turning away from sowing the variety.